其他 (qí tā) — other; else; the rest | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

其他 is a neutral, fairly formal 'other / the rest,' common in writing and speech. Use 别 when you mean 'something else' in casual talk, and 其余 specifically for 'the remaining' of a known set.

pronoun

otherelsethe rest

Examples

，其他。
Chú le zhè xiē shū, wǒ hái yǒu qí tā shū.
Besides these books, I have other books.
，其他。
Zhè ge bù hǎo chī, nǐ chī qí tā ba.
This one doesn't taste good; eat something else.
其他？
Nǐ hái yǒu qí tā wèn tí ma?
Do you have any other questions?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

‘其’ points to something, and ‘他’ means other, together giving other or else.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The modern form 其 comes from an early drawing of a basket, with a stand added underneath.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻也他

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénman

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

也yě他tā

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

他 combines 亻 (a person) with 也, which was chosen for its sound.

Appears in

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